November/December 2025
AN UPDATE FROM...
Theresa Plimmer General Manager
What a whirlwind of a year it’s been. It feels like it’s flown by in the blink of an eye! As many of you know, I’ve been helping at one of our sister sites recently, so you might not have seen me around as much as usual.
I want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to all our members and to every one of our section captains for the tremendous job you’ve done supporting our chosen charities this year.
Welcome, Sid Desai!
We’re delighted to welcome Sid Desai to the Ramsdale Park team as our new Sales Manager.
Sid brings a wealth of experience in hospitality and event sales, along with a passion for creating exceptional guest experiences.
He’ll be overseeing all our event, group, and membership sales - ensuring every visitor to Ramsdale Park receives the very best service from start to finish.
Please join us in giving Sid a warm welcome - he’s excited to meet our members, guests, and partners!
As some of you know, I stepped in to take over the Ladies Charity Day at the very last minute, and I have to say, the support from all of you was amazing. A special thank you goes to Sharon Insley, who kept the finances straight every time I threw money her way!
Our committee has continued to work hard to keep the competition diary full, and Johnny and his team have done a cracking job on the course, managing to squeeze in another round of maintenance just last week.
There will be some changes coming to the driving range booking system. We know it hasn’t been the easiest process lately, but improvements are on the way (more details in this newsletter).
Thank you once again for your continued support, your kindness, and everything you do to make this club so special, not just for my team, but for the whole community.
Warm regards,
Theresa
Range Booking System Update
We know the current booking system has been frustrating, but great news, a new system is coming very soon!
Here’s what you need to know:
• No more topping up credit in advance.
• The new app will automatically recognise you as a member and apply your 10% discount instantly.
• Book by time - you’ll be able to see when there are free bays and won’t have to wait around anymore.
• Choose from 30 minutes, 1 hour, 90 minutes, or 2 hours - perfect for a quick warm-up or a full session.
Please use up any remaining credit on your current account before the switch-over.
Further details about the new app will be shared very soon.
COURSE REPORT
Johnny Evans Course Manager
Hi everyone,
As we are well into the autumn, I’d like to explain some of the work we’ve done or will be doing this year and into early 2026.
The overseeding on fairways and bare areas went extremely well, with probably well over 95% take. We’d like to continue this going forward to introduce some better grasses into the sward, so I’ve budgeted for it next year as well.
As you will have noticed, we’ve completed the maintenance weeks on each course, with the Lee course being completed (03.11). This involved deep aeration down to 300mm to relieve compaction and smash any underlying hard pans that may be present. Then, organic matter removal via hollow coring to remove unwanted dead material, followed by heavy sanding to dilute organic matter and firm up the greens heading into winter, while also restoring surface levels. This was done on greens, tees and aprons. This is a very disruptive operation, so thank you for everyone’s patience.
You will probably have also noticed some disease scars visible. Unfortunately, we had very high disease pressure conditions during October, where there was lots of plant leaf wetness through dews and drizzle and also mid temperatures. These conditions are perfect for the spread of disease, and while we did spray for it, the pressure was so high that the fungicide didn’t work for long, and we got hit again. It’s cleared a little; however, some scarring is still around, so hopefully we will grow that out before Christmas.
• Project plans for the winter include re-turfing the 8th tee, which has suffered during wet conditions, so we’ll strip the old turf off, rotavate the soil, level and turf.
• Move the mat on the 17th tee over to the left of the main tee for easier access during winter.
• Put a drain into the front of the 10th Lee green to aid water movement.
• Re-turf some worn/damaged areas; some have already had cores put on them, which will grow back as grass over the next few months.
• Some smaller path areas will be done with stone and red pave.
• Deep rough cutting and collection
• Woodland management in selected areas.
Another thing that we’ll be implementing this winter will be to rope off the entire green area and direct foot traffic around tees to stop buggies and trolleys from creating the worn areas in the first place. I’m sure this will be an unpopular opinion; however, it’s essential if we want better conditions (good grass coverage) next spring/summer.
Of course, all the usual aeration will take place on fairways and semi-rough where possible as well.
Please can I ask everyone to be patient and allow my staff to carry out their work quickly and safely for the benefit of everyone. The quicker we can work, the more work we can do. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask any of us, and I’m sure we can explain.
Thanks in advance.
Johnny
Autumn/Winter News from
the Pro Shop
As the temperatures drop, we’ve stocked up on everything you need to stay warm and perform your best through the colder months!
From waterproofs and winter gloves to cosy layers and accessories, make sure you’re ready for every round this season.
Trade-In & Custom Fitting Event
We held our special Trade-In and Custom Fitting Event on Friday, 14th November. It was the perfect opportunity to upgrade equipment, get customfitted by experts, and discover the ideal clubs for every player’s game.
If you missed out, make sure to secure your spot early for our next event, spaces always fill up fast!
Fantastic Christmas Gift Ideas
Looking for the perfect present for the golfer in your life?
We’ve got you covered with gift vouchers available for both the shop and golf lessons. It’s the ideal way to treat someone special this festive season.
Winter Coaching Package with PGA Professional Jack Stoppard
Take your game to the next level this winter with our Winter Golf Training Package, designed by PGA Professional Jack Stoppard.
This exclusive programme focuses on making real improvements while the competition season is on pause.
Package Includes:
• 60-minute initial lesson
• Full swing assessment
• Personalised swing improvement plan
• 5 x 30-minute follow-up lessons
• 60-minute end-of-programme session
• Continued training plan
Price: £275
Lessons to be taken between November and April
Limited availability – book early to secure your place!
SALES UPDATE
Tom Wilson Sales Manager
Hi everyone,
Just a quick update from me on what we have planned.
Members Range Night
It’s that time again! We’re saying a huge thank you to our wonderful members with another special Members Range Night!
Join us on Tuesday, 25th November from 6–8pm for an evening of fun, friendly competition, and a delicious curry cooked by our chef Simon. The range nights are always a great evening, our Range Manager Wanch and I will be here to ensure everything runs smoothly! We normally ask that everyone arrives between 5.45-6pm so we can allocate the bays and set up the competitions. Each bay will have a scorecard with 3 different competitions-
• Nearest the pin- this will be an average distance to the pin on all the 4 par 3’s at Pinehurst No 2 CLOSEST AVERAGE WILL BE THE WINNER!
• The second competition will be 9 holes at Pebble beach - THE LOWEST NET SCORE WILL TAKE THE PRIZE!
• Finally, the fun favourite Scrapyard Golf! HIGHEST POINTS SCORER WILL BE THE CHAMPION!
Simon’s delicious curry will be served at approximately 7pm, leaving enough time for the prizes to be given at 8pm. It would be great to see as many members attending as possible, it’s a small thank you from the Ramsdale team for your continued support this year - hopefully I will see you all on the 25th!
Book here for the members range night: https://ibookedonline.com/ramsdale-park-golfcentre/events/trackman-member-range-night
A Message From Chef Simon
How We Do Them
1. Choose the right potatoes.
Our Sunday carveries are something we’re truly proud of, and it’s no surprise that the most compliments we receive are for our infamous roast potatoes.
So, here’s how we do them, simple, but absolutely spot on every time.
We use Maris Piper or King Edward - the best varieties for that fluffy inside and crispy outside.
2. Prep and parboil.
Peel and cut the potatoes into even chunks. Boil in well-salted water for about 8–10 minutes, until just tender at the edges. You should be able to fluff them slightly when shaken in the pan - that rough surface is what gives you the crunch.
3. The secret - fat.
Heat goose fat (or vegetable oil for a lighter option) in a roasting tray in the oven at 200°C (fan 180°C) until smoking hot. Carefully add the potatoes and coat them fully. This initial sizzle is key.
4. Season generously.
Sprinkle with sea salt, cracked black pepper, and a touch of fresh rosemary. The salt helps pull moisture out for extra crispiness.
5. Roast to perfection.
Roast for about 50–60 minutes, turning once or twice until all sides are golden and crisp.
6. Finishing touch.
When they come out, toss them lightly with a pinch more salt and a few leaves of rosemary. Serve immediately - golden, crunchy, and fluffy inside.
Chef’s Tip
For extra flavour, add a few crushed garlic cloves to the tray halfway through cooking. They infuse the fat without overpowering the potatoes.
CH AS At...
